Riding on Glenn Maxwell's 145 unbeaten in just 65 deliveries, Australia today broke the world record of highest total in Twenty20 with a score of 263/3 in 20 overs against Sri Lanka in the first match here.

Image Source : AP Australian team celebrate victory over Sri Lanka in first twenty20

Riding on Glenn Maxwell's 145 unbeaten in just 65 deliveries, Australia today broke the world record of highest total in Twenty20 with a score of 263/3 in 20 overs to beat Sri Lanka by 85 runs in the first match here.

The record was earlier held by Sri Lanka which scored 260-6 against Kenya in 2007.

Needing more than 13 runs an over to win, Sri Lanka made a poor start, losing Tillakaratne Dilshan in the first over bowled by Mitchell Starc.

It was Sri Lanka's heaviest loss against Australia in Twenty20 internationals, with the previous low point having been an 81-run defeat in 2010.

Captain Dinesh Chandimal scored 58 for the hosts, while Chamara Kapugedera made 43.

Seamers Starc and Scott Boland had identical bowling figures of 3-26 for Australia.

Asked to bat first, Maxwell smashed nine sixes and 14 boundaries for his 145 not out in 65 balls. Along with being his maiden century, it was the all-time second best individual score in T20s behind teammate Aaron Finch's 156.

Australia's opening partnership of David Warner and Maxwell set the tone, and the latter brought up the 50 partnership with a reverse sweep for six in the fifth over.

Warner soon fell for 28 but Maxwell continued the onslaught and Australia passed 100 from 9.3 overs.

Maxwell reached 50 off 27 deliveries, doing so with trademark flourish by thrashing a massive 90-metre six down the ground.

Maxwell passed his previous best of 75 and earned a reprieve one run later when he was caught on the boundary, only for Chamara Kapugedera to touch the boundary with his foot -- resulting in another six.

Australia put on 97 for the second wicket before Usman Khawaja fell for 36 off 22.

Maxwell continued his onslaught bringing up his ton off 49 balls, just four off world-record pace.

The Victorian hit three consecutive sixes in the 17th over and briefly looked set to overhaul Aaron Finch's world record of 156.

Travis Head hit three sixes and four boundaries for an 18-ball 45 before being out off the last ball of the innings.

Five out of six bowlers used by Sri Lanka conceded more than 11 runs an over.

The second Twenty20, the final match of Australia's tour, will be played in Colombo on Friday.